Custom Sabbat Ritae
Some chronicles allow for their players to develop customized powers for their characters. The following is a compilation of player created custom content in OWBN. At this time, custom content that is created and/or used by vampire PC's is required to be listed.
Survivors of the road learned how to hunt without causing too many prying eyes to fall upon them or, more importantly, learned to feed efficiently for when Gehenna kills mortals in mass. This simple ignobilis ritae was formed from the study of the Stealth ritae and the Blood Feast. Those who use this ritae have learned to feed with efficiency and to cover their tracks.
System: This simple ritae, when casted, allows for the participants to double the effectiveness of using abilities like Hunting and Vamp. By spending the appropriate amount of time out of play for using the ability you are able to double the amount of blood you would gain.
While this does not bypass feeding scenes, and their consequences, it allows for the participants to double their results.
Developed by the Wardens as a means to help their siblings against the end times, this ritae calls for the vampire to pay a price to help save others.
System: Invoking the name of Caine, the priest sacrifices in order to use this ritae. The priest must spend blood equal to half their permanent blood pool and willpower equal to half their permanent Willpower pool or half their permanent health levels in the form of unsoakable aggravated damage, the priest may negate one negative effect when dealing with a world shattering event. Those who choose the first option can not regain their pool for the remainder of the scene. This can only be used when an ST allows and the ST may decide what occurs as a result. A player may use this as a means to sacrifice their character for more, but Storytellers are encouraged to do what is best for their plot.
"The flame does not lie. But it listens. And it remembers what it hears."
Overview: The Whisper in the Flame is a rite of revelation and internal investigation.
It is invoked when:
A member of the Inquisition is suspected of corruption, infernal influence, spiritual contamination, or concealment of truth, but
There is insufficient proof for formal punishment or destruction.
This rite is neither a trial nor a sentence. It is a divine test — to determine whether a Cainite stands clean before the Watch or whether they are tainted by lies, shadow, or doubt.
Failure does not guarantee guilt — but it permits escalation to further punishment or spiritual isolation.
Participants:
The Accused – The Cainite under examination.
The Watcher – A Watch Inquisitor (or higher) overseeing the rite.
The Witnesses – A minimum of six Inquisitors, ideally with Auspex 2+, True Faith, or Occult expertise.
The Flamebearer – The Inquisitor who tends the consecrated candles and notes the reactions.
Ritae Requirements:
Seven ritual candles, made from:
Sanctified wax, mixed with bone ash and vitae,
Each anointed with holy oil and the ash of a convicted heretic (if available).
A ritual brazier, flame font, or central fire blessed by the Watch.
A circle inscribed in salt, iron powder, and blood chalk, with a central seat or pillar upon which the Subject sits or kneels.
Optional: A relic or scripture (e.g. Codex Obscura, the Watcher’s Brand, etc.) placed before the Subject as a spiritual mirror.
The Ritae:
Preparation and Consecration
The room is sealed in silence.
The Witnesses take their places around the circle, forming a heptagon — one at each point.
Each candle is lit one by one with a prayer:“Let this flame see what we do not.”
The Subject is brought into the center and commanded to kneel or sit, surrounded by the seven lit candles.
The Invocation
The Watcher stands before the Subject and speaks: “You are not accused. You are not condemned. You are merely seen — by the fire, and by the Watch. If there is truth in you, let it endure. If there is shadow, let it be burned.”
The Seven Questions
Each Witness, in clockwise order, poses one question to the Subject.
Questions may be:
Factual: “Did you enter the chapel on the night the relic vanished?”
Spiritual: “Do you serve the Watch over yourself?”
Theological: “Is the Abyss a path or a poison?”
Philosophical: “Can doubt and conviction coexist?”
The Subject must answer clearly and immediately.
Evasion, hesitation, or deceit causes the flame to react.
Each time the Subject answers, the Flamebearer observes the flame closest to them.
Flame Reaction & Judgment
If the flame burns clean and steady – the answer is considered pure.
If the flame flares, gutters, or leans inward – the Subject is considered stained by:
Deceit (if lying),
Fear (if hesitant),
Taint (if spiritually compromised).
Even one reaction is cause for suspicion.
Multiple reactions may justify immediate branding, penance, or exile.
The Flamebearer records each flame's response and hands the record to the Watcher.
Final Affirmation
The Watcher steps into the circle and commands the Subject: “Speak your final truth. One sentence. Let the flame bear witness.”
The Subject must speak a final sentence of personal conviction.
The flames are then extinguished simultaneously, and the Watcher gives the ruling:
If clean: “The fire remembers you well. You may rise.”
If flawed: “The fire recoils. There is rot in your spirit. We shall see what must be cut away.”
If corrupt: “The flame shrieked. And now we must answer it.
The Subject is immediately restrained for branding or further trial.
Outcomes:
Cleansed:
Subject is restored to good standing within the Watch.
All suspicions are formally set aside unless new evidence emerges.
Flawed:
Subject is referred for:
The Trial of Seven Breaths,
The Circle of Contempt,
Or suspension from Inquisitorial duties.
Aura permanently marked as “seen by the flame” — readable by Auspex.
Corrupt:
Subject is referred for branding, exile, or summary execution, depending on the nature of the detected taint.
Mechanics:
The Subject must make Self-Control, Willpower, or Courage tests during each question (diff 6–8).
The ST or Flamebearer may simulate candle reactions based on Aura Reading, Auspex, or Empathy chops
Witnesses may chop Occult or Theology to interpret flame symbolism.
Name: Thunderdome
Created by: Venom and Sons of Caine of Milwaukee: Black Crusade
Description: Sometimes the bonds of Sword members from different packs go beyond those gained through the Vaulderie. Through time tested support and backing of each other, the pack members of the Sons of Caine and Venom have created a ritae to further prove their trust and devotion to the other’s cause. Through the trust and familiarity, members of both packs are stronger when fighting alongside each other. In preparation of this rite, members of both packs will go and steal motorcycles from the surrounding area as the Sons of Caine members value their personal bikes too highly to include them in this destructive ritae. To perform this rite, attending priests from both packs must know the ritae. The performing priests pool the names of their pack mates into two separate bowls, or helmets if you are so inclined, and teams of two are drawn at random. After teams are drawn and a bracket is made, the members of the Sons of Caine will mount their bikes and their accompanying teammate from Venom will grab a long bludgeoning instrument. A dangerous game that is a mix between chicken and a joust commences as members of Venom attempt to knock the opposing bike over or the opposing team members off while the Sons of Caine member attempts to keep their bike upright and moving. There are very few rules to this event other than that playing dirty is encouraged. When only one team’s bike is left standing a bonfire is started, usually with the now demolished motorcycles and members of both packs party and revel in their accomplishments or lack thereof depending on the events played out during the tournament.
Mechanics: For the rest of the night, when a member of the pack Venom and a member of the pack Sons of Caine, that have both taken part in this ritae are engaged on the same opposing target they are considered to be up one trait on all challenges against their designated target. Switching targets has no effect as long is at least one member of the other pack engaging the target in some way.
The chosen spend much of their free time training for their upcoming missions or keeping their skills sharp. However, in order for a Cainite to go all out, as it we're, requires a great expense of resources. As a result, few members of the Chosen choose to use their full range of skills when in training; as they may be called to act at any moment. To counter this glad, the Ritae of the Training Mission was developed for that exact purpose. Adapted from the Ignoblis Ritae Test of Might a priest can now channel their faith and blessings to the Dark Father in helping his fellow brothers and sisters in being restored after they complete their training. The priest must set forth first what the particular training exercise is before enacting this Ritae and also usually follows with several other Ritae practices by the Black Hand. There after the Chosen undergoing the Training need to no longer feae wasting precious resources in training; when they might need them at any moment.
System: Once the Training Mission ritus is complete all used Attribute Traits, Ability Traits, and Willpower Traits (both Permanent and Temporary) return to all the characters that participated in the Ritae as if they had never used them in the first place. This Ritae may only be used for the actual training missions, not actual operations or missions for the Black Hand, and may not be used in any other instance.
System: Based on the ancient roman ritual of Triumph this ritae is performed after a successful military campaign. The ranking leader of the Sabbat who organized the Crusade or other major campaign is honored by a priest who knows this ritual. The sect leader is paraded through the streets of their home city in an elaborate celebration made to look like a parade in the fashion of roman style. He is paraded through the streets by chariot as the Sabbat cheers him on. Generally the mortals of the area believe its some grand parade put on by local Roman re in actors. At the conclusion of the celebration, upon which ends at the site of a great gathering of the Sabbat, the leader is awarded the status trait Triumphant and may hence forth add Vir Triumphalis to any form of address. This title even lasts after a Cainite has reached Final Death.
Requirements for a Triumph
1. Must have killed at least 20 of the enemy and win, or completely destroyed the enemy in a significant battle or crusade.
2. Must be of at least Bishop rank and have lead the campaign.
3. Bring back the packs under your command home safe. I.E. can’t have a decimated force.
4. A member of the clergy of equal or higher rank must approve of the ceremony.
The priest holds a venomous Serpent while speaking briefly of unity among the brothers and sisters of the Sword, he allows the viper to strike him and as it does he speaks on the Beast and how it can cause us to lash out at even those who are our allies, but we must remain strong in our Unity despite this. They are told to meditate on how they feel at the sight of a Brother wounded by the vipers fangs and to remember that should they fully lose control it may be their fangs wounding a Brother next.
The viper is then killed and its blood and venom are mixed in a copper vessel as narcotic herbs are mixed into the vessel. Those who participate in the Ritae drink of the concoction and enter a brief state of clarity and unity with their beast that brings them to an understanding about the unity of their Brothers and Sisters who are likewise experiencing this tranquility. When the ritual concludes each who partook of the mixture find a pair of fang marks on their arm or wrist where the viper bit the priest as a reminder of the Ritae. The mark fades when the Ritae does at the end of the night.
Everyone who participates in this Ritae gains a Bonus Self Control/Instinct trait for the remainder of the night. This can exceed the normal limit of five.
o Unity in Faith (Created by Amir Qadr), Developed to ensure unity amongst allied packs that may not be able to Vaulderie frequently, and to announce the solidarity of the gathered Cainites, this Ritus is simple and quick, but also raucous and loud. The Priest leads all participants in a brief chant. As this was developed for the Faith and Fire alliance the standard form is:
The Priest(s) call(s) out "Gehenna has arrived"
The pack responds "Faith is our guide!"
The Priest(s) call(s) out "The Ancients arise!"
The pack responds "By our fire they shall die!
"Three times in unison "Faith. Fire. Fire. Faith. All enemies crumble in our wake"
Particularly fervent performances may see the assembled Cainites repeat the final line several more times if they so desire. For the remainder of the night, all participants treat their Viniculum ratings to each other participant as 3 steps higher, up to a maximum of 10. Participants with no existing viniculum to each other are treated as having a 3 point viniculum--though typically this rite will precede or follow a Vaulderie.
This unholy article of clothing is a priestly vestment with a Sabbat blessing and curse upon it. This ritae was crafted by the more necromantic members of the Sabbat that took the joy of rebellion against the Church one step further. A Sabbat priest with this ritae must stalk, hunt, and kill a high ranking member of the mortal clergy. After soaking the Priest’s garment in the blood of its victim, the Sabbat priest performs dark prayers to caine and removes the mortal clergy’s symbols form the robe and replaces them with symbols of the sabbat and books nod. There after the Vestment allows any who wear it some limited interaction with the dead, but comes with a terrible curse for any Sabbat member who might still have mortal feelings.
System: The performance of this ritae creates the Vestment of Vileness magic item from The white wolf Sabbat books. To create a Vestment of Vileness requires the priest to spend 1 permanent willpower to create one. Additionally, the suggested updated mechanics for the Vestment of Vileness are below (as the original is based on Second Edition Vampire, where Necromancy was not a blood Magic).
To activate the powers of the Vestment of Vileness costs 1 willpower for the next scene or an hour. During that time the Sabbat priest can see into the shadowlands. They are able to see, hear, and speak to any wraiths during this time. Additionally, the Priest can spend 1 willpower point to give a command to a wraith he can see while this item is active. The mechanics for this command are the same as the dominate level Mesmerism but only works on wraiths. There is a curse on this robe, the curse dooms the owner to lose any loved one who touches the robe. Any character who wears a Vestment of Vileness permanently loses the Merit True love if they possess it, and if they do not, may never purchase it.
Vitae Seal is a rite of blessing. Purifying a soldier of Caine's weapon before war. The Priest mixes his vitae with wax, dyes can also be added to change the color of the seal. The Priest preys over this holy wax, thanking Caine for the power of his blood. Once created this Holy Wax can be used immediately or stored until the end of the night. The power of sunrise removes the power of the Holy Wax. To bless a weapon melt the Holy Wax and drip it on the weapon. Using a consecrated item create a seal. Some have a seal press or signet ring they use, other carve new symbols or text each time. During this time the Priest asks Caine to bless this weapon. If he does the warrior will feel is blessing during the upcoming battle. The power of the seal lasts until the battle is over or until sunrise.
Game Mechanic: To make the Holy Wax add a trait of Vitae for each 10 dose you are making. Each dose can bless one weapon. The social challenge is done when creating the Holy Wax the trait difficulty is the number of dose being created. If the Priest fails at this challenge and the two simples that follow the wax mixture bursts and burns him, causing one level of Agg damage. Once the Holy Wax is created the Priest can bless one weapon per dose created. A Cainite can only have one blessed weapon per battle. If they have more than one with a seal only one of them carries the blessing. Blessing: Any time during the battle if the blessed weapon is being used the Cainite can call upon the blessing. The blessing gives you Purity trait that can be spent like a Willpower. Once the blessing is used, the battle ends, or at sunrise all Holy Wax and Vitae Seals turn to ash.